According to global deal tracking firm Dealogic, the deal value in the January to June period this year was the lowest first six months deal value recorded since 2009, when $1.09 trillion worth of transactions were announced.
In terms of number of deals, 15,971 deals were announced in the first half of 2013, registering a decline of 29 per cent over the corresponding period a year ago when 22,409 deals were announced.
Moreover volumes dropped for the second consecutive quarter to $512.5 billion in April-June period, Dealogic said.
Global cross border M&A totalled $307.1 billion in the first half of 2013, down 27 per cent year-on-year and accounted for just 26 per cent of total M&A volume, the lowest half year share since first half of 2009 (25 per cent).
In contrast to the global trend, US targeted M&A was up 26 per cent year-on-year to $505.7 billion in the January-June period of 2013.
Europe targeted M&A volume totalled $307.6 billion in the first half of 2013, down 14 per cent over the same period last year ($357.8 billion).
Asia Pacific (ex Japan) volume of $211.4 billion in first half of 2013 was down 7 per cent over the corresponding period of last year when deals worth $226.1